Improvement in hydraulic gas-mains



F.. GRINNELL.

l HYDRAULIC GAS-MAIN. 110.175,832. Patented Apr'1111. 1876.

INVENTOR- UNITED STAT-ns PATENT Orrrcn `FREDERICK GRINNELL, OFPROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE PROVIDENCE STEAM LAND GAS PIPECOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IIYMPROVE MENT-.IN HYDRAULIC GAS-MAINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.175,832, dated April 1l,1876; application led March 1, 1876.

I'o all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FREDERICK GRINNELL, of the city of Providence, inthe State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements relating `to Gas Manu-I facturing Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specication:

The invention is intended to apply mainly or entirely to the manufactureof gas from petroleum.

I have modified the construction of that part of gas apparatus which isordinarily termed the hydraulic main, and have provided the same with aliberal current of water. In the ordinary hydraulic main the Water isgradually replaced by tarry liquids, and the Huid in the hydraulic mainbecomes practically tar. For the ordinary uses oi' the hydraulic main,simply to form a stop to prevent the return of the gas when the retortsare open, such change of the fluid to tar is not objectionable. But inmy apparatus I seek to accomplish, in addition to that end, anotherimportant end, which is a practical washing of the gas, sucient, withoutfurther washing, to avoid all risk of smoking. This can only be attainedby contact with water. I ind it practicable to ei'ect a suicient washingby'means of my hydraulic main, and of thel water flowing through thesame, so that any further washing may be dispensed with, and to maintainin connection therewith a practically uniform depth of seal, no matterhow greatly the supply of water may be accidentally or intention- 4 allyvaried.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means ofcarrying out the invention. The accompanying drawings form a part ofthis specication.

Figure l is a perspective view of the entire gas-washing apparatus. Fig.2 is a perspective view of the main vessel or hydraulic main with thecover removed. Fig. 3 is a crosssection through the apparatus. v

Similar letters ot'referenceindicate like parts in all the figures.

A is a chest of iron, corresponding to the ordinary hydraulic main, andwhich willbe hereafter so designated. B B are the standing pipes, whichdeliver gas from the retorts, not represented, through the short nozzlesor dippipes A],`Which are cast in one with the cover ot' the chest A, orare otherwise-tightly connected thereto. A2 is a partition, forming aninternal compartmenam, in `the chest or main A. It may, if` preferred,extend not only along the length, but also across within the the chestA, forming in eiect an internal box or vessel sufficiently capacious,but not filling the whole area ot' the base of the chest A. C is asupply-pipe, bringing water from a reservoir at a higher level, notrepresented. The water entering through the pipe C in a constant stream,flows strongly along near the bottom, and, while agitating the tar atthe bottom, adds continually to the water in the compartment m1, and,causing the tarry matters to rise to the top, removes them promptly bycausing such matters, with the water, to iow constantly over the edge ofthe partition A2, and fall to the bottom ot' the other compartment m2. Aliberal discharge-pipe, E, formed with a deep trap, is connected to thecompartment m2 at or near its base. The gas may be taken from the top ofthe chest or main A in the ordinary manner, represented by the pipe M.The inilowing water keeps the level in the compartment 'm1 always alittle above the top edge of the partition A2, and the water-level inthe compartment m1 is, by reason ot' the long line of overflow,practically uniform, however the admission of the water is varied. Theconstruct-ion allows the employment of a discharge-Siphon sufficientlylarge to carry away a large and widely varying quantity of water. Thewater in the compartment m1 forms a seal on the pipes B in the samemanner as the tar in an ordinary hydraulic main seals the correspondingpipes. But the construction insures uniformity of depth of seal, becauseany surplus water lows oft instantly, and the provision for receiving anactive current of water and for removing it perfectly, however variablemay be the quantity, insures that it shall be water, and not tar, towhich the gas is presented in bubbling up from the open lower ends ofthe dippipes. If the large Siphon-pipe E were alone relied upon toeffect the discharge, and if, as is usual, the inflow is liable to varyin such -ml stand practically in the middle of the chest, with anoverflow on all sides, thus presenting a still longer line of overflow.Or I can, if desired,in any case make the compart` nient m2, instead ofm1, in the form of such an isolated box with the Water descending intoit on all sides.

The contents of the main being water, constantly renewed, the bubblingup of the gas around the lower ends of the nozzles A1 Will present it tothe Water sufficiently to effect the washing necessary., Such bubblingalso aids to agitate and maintain a raw surface of water over the Wholetop of thecompartment m1, which Will be further effective. The fallingof the water in a thin sheet or stratum oil the perpendicular surface ofthe partition Az also presents the Water to the gas in an agitatedcondition.

I claim as my invention- The hydraulic main and gas-washer described,having, in combination with the main A, gas-passages B M, andWater-passages C and E, the partition`A2, forming a Water-corn`partment, m1, of less height than the main,

and presenting relatively-clear Water in anv activelyagitated conditionto the dip-pipes, with a uniform depth of seal, asV herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set -my hand this 28th day ofFebruary, 1876, in

Vthe presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

FREDERICK GRINNELL.

Witnesses:

PHILLIPS ABBOTT, C. C. S'rETsoN.

